Blue Beast Is On Bedrest..

[chevybrat]

So, I swung by the Chevy Dealer on Friday to get an oil change. When they were ringin' me up, the mechanic came over and told me that they found 2 leaks, a power steering leak and a coolant leak, and that my coolant reservoir was empty/almost empty. He said he suspected they were both hose leaks. I was thinking, wow, got lucky there, just a hose? I had no idea my truck was leaking anything as I've never seen puddles anywhere I've parked. Which is actually kind of strange because that night I spent a good amount of time scrubbin er' down and gettin er' nice and clean, and when I pulled it back into the garage, I noticed 2 puddles of pink liquid. I popped the hood and looked around, though it was just about dark and I couldn't see too well. I did see that the coolant reservoir was empty or just about empty, anyway. Another thing that surprised me, as I expected the dealership would at least fill it with water.

Anyway, I ended up filling it with water, kept it parked in the garage and put some cardboard underneath the truck to see how bad it was leaking. When I woke up, the cardboard was dry with no stains. However, I drove to my dads before work Saturday morning so he could take a look, and when I parked at his house, antifreeze was pouring out around my skid plate. My dad is really good with cars and has rebuilt from the ground up so he's very experienced. He looked around under the hood, which we then saw fluid on the drivers front side under my CAI. He also felt the hoses which were all dry, and he is 99.9% certain it is the radiator that needs to be replaced. I have absolutely no money as Devon and I have been going through rough financial times, but fortunately my dad stepped up and ordered an OEM replacement rad and has offered to install it for me.

I find it a bit strange that I never once noticed a puddle of coolant until the day I get an oil change and they tell me I have a leak. But I guess just got lucky and caught it before it got real bad? Now anytime I drive the truck, it just pours antifreeze/water. I have decided to keep it parked until the new Rad shows up and my dad has the time to install it. Hopefully the weather cooperates next weekend...

I took some pictures yesterday after I got home from work, just for the heck of it.

This one is looking over front drivers side tire. The wheel wells are splattered with antifreeze, as well.

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu25/Nikon_Luvr/754.jpg

Looking under the front end where it's leaking the worst, around the skid plate.

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu25/Nikon_Luvr/759.jpg

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu25/Nikon_Luvr/763.jpg

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu25/Nikon_Luvr/775.jpg

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu25/Nikon_Luvr/761.jpg

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu25/Nikon_Luvr/764.jpg

[87wildside]

Well that sucks.
Make sure to switch over to the green anti freeze.

[chevybrat]

Indeed =[ I am bummin but it could be worse. At least it will stay clean longer while it's parked in the garage hahaha. Which will make it even more enjoyable when I get to drive it again, clean inside and out plus a new Rad :D

I've heard a lot of things regarding Dexcool VS green, and for the time being, I'm sticking with Dex.

[oddball]

Ive used Dex for years and never had any problem,i am switching to the yellow stuff on the new engine(s) though.

[Slacker1357]

I switched to the green stuff. the dexcool ate away at the Intake manifold gaskets. So be on the look out for that too.

[87wildside]

Leak + Dex cool = suck.
Oxygen makes it corrosive and gel from what I have read.

[oddball]

I've heard all of the above,but,never experienced any of it.Gonna use the yellow stuff anyway,no need to push my luck any harder than I already do...

[white00s10]

Green > dex.

As it ages it turns acidic. than it eats gaskets and hoses.

[D-Caf]

Sorry about the leak, glad your dad's there to help out though!

As for dex, ran it fine for 11 years in my truck and never had a problem from it. Keep it maintained and have your radiator flushed at 100K miles and refilled and you shouldn't have problems.

[XTREME80]

I have always run the dex, Been a GM tech for 11 years IMO it is good stuff. BTW looks like my 94 truck leaking at the tanks. Glad you got some peps to help you out.:D